The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-29
LAST MOMENTS.
John j. Littleton'S Life at an End.
The Nashville Journalist at Last
Succumbs to Death.
He Holds Out Bravely, but Dies
Almost Unconsciously.
The Nobility of His Wife a Feature
in the Tragedy.
Various Comments Upon the Affair
but the People Are Willing That
tho Law Shall Take
It's Course.

Its Course.
Special Dispatch to the Appeal.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dee. 2S.-The sad
end Of last Saturdays murder came for one
of the parties early this morning, when
John j. Littlcton died at his home on
South High street. Since early yesterday
morning the gravest apprehensions had
been entertained for Mr.. Littleton's life,
and the fears grew into despair as the
night came on. Then the death OF Little
ton became certainty little after mid
night, and was but a question OF few
hours. Inflammation had set in yesterday
afternoon, and though it did not become
generally known, the physicians had very
little hope for him. About midnight Drs.
Eve and Bonner told the sufferer that his
end was near at hand but he showed no
surprise, nor was il surprise TO him. In
deed, after the first hopes raised by the re-
action from the first shock, his family had
become satisfied that his end was rapidly
approaching and the blow did not come
unexpectedly. At midnight
THE LAST SACRAMENT
OF the Catholic church was administered
by Bishop Radamachcr. Mr.. littlcton
was peaioctly conscious almost 20 the last,
but about | O'Clock he spoke with the
greatest difficulty. Members of the family
and friends present were recognized, and
he allcctionatcly greeted his father, who
spoke 20 him. When, about . o'clock, he
became unconscious IL was evident that
the end was near and, still unconscious, ut
$50 o'clock he died All in human power
had been done ior him, but nothing could
avail.
There were present at the end his sister
Mary, MH. Littlctons sister Miss Kate
Brabson; his father, his brothers, Moses,
William, Sanford and Jesse. also W. &.
Shelly and j. T.. McNutt, from East Ten
ncssee; Mai. l.. II. Stahlman, Gen. George
Nancy, A. NJ. Hughes, Ice Ayers and
Mother Francis, from st. Cecilia.
soon AFTER MS DEATH
his wife and children were taken 10
Mai. Stahlman's residence, where they
have since been. Shortly after the last
breath, DS. Eve and Bonner made u
casual examination Of the wounds in Mr.
I.itiletons body. They found tlnrty siX
buckshot wounds, but the wounds which
caused his death were those in his right
side over the liver, two between the shoul.
dcs and one ia the left side. Deputy
Coroner Hood conducted the inquest, Ut
which ihc testimony was unchanged lrum
that already reported in the statements OF
the eye Witnesses Of the shooting. One
witness testimony tended To show that
John Cockrill, the BuHarl orator, knew
exactly what was contemplated when he
hired the room In which Banks waited lor
littlcton from Albert Hawkins for one
week. This witness testified that the gun
was only about half way out oi the ro0m
when the last shot was fired, and that John
Cockrill stuck his head ont oi the window
and laughed to Hawkins remark that he
(Cocknll) must have known all about this
coCKEiLL ANSWERED.:
at Is my business what did" The
jury returned verdict that Mr. John ].
littlcton came 10 his death from gunshot
wounds at the hands Oi Joseph X. Banks
Mcssn. Quarlcs d Turlcy and W. g..
Bricn have been retained ~ attorneys for
the prosecution. One Of the features of
litilcion's suffering has been the hcrosm
and devotion OF his wife, which has won
Tor her the love aud admiration Of all who
have witnessed IT, From the iirst she has
shown herself woman oi unusual iorii-
tudc and strength Oi mind. Mr.. lililct0n
hes from the beginning realized his con.
dilicn and has given his wife iull direction
for the management Of his affairs Ills
| friends will bc glad 10 know that he does
] t,.t t.uss. tt|tl. tsUVr.tstls.l g.V
his life insured for 5000 In the Mutual
Benefit Insurance company of New lcr
Soy, anda -, 900 accident policy IN Nash.
Vile company. The funeral services will
! bo held vt 10 o'clock tomorrow morning nj
the cathedral, Bishop Radamachcr oilici-
ating. The remains will be Inferred in
Mount Calvary.
MEETING oF CotoHED CITIZENS
has been called for tomorrow afternoon 10
hold appropriate services In honor Of Mr.
| liitlcion. Tho meeting will hc held ut j.
G. Napicr's office. There II the most gen.
cral regret at the death OF liltlcion. aud
even his bittercst enemies hoped that ho
/ would finally recover from his injuries
There is much and varied comment On
| shooting and its causes. But the general
feeling is 10 leave the law take the settle.
mcnt oi the matter. Banks will have his
| examining trial next Tuesday and II Is be.
licycd his case will come up before the
criminal court early in the term, which
begins next week.
BNEf SKETCH or THE DECEASED.
Mr.. Litilcton would have been twenty.
nine ycas old had lac lived 90 the lst Oi
January. and WIS born aud reared In
Roane county, this State, being pre-.
eminently a scli.madc man. When emery.
ing from his teens he borrowed few
standard volumes from Judge james
Sewer, Of Kingston, and these lac studied
at night, teaching public school during
the day. At the age Of twenty-Onc he
began 20 practice law at Kingston, but
soon left the bar for journalism, his fnt
venture being the founding Of the CyclOns,
q Democratic weekly, NJ Kingston In
1882 he moved 20 Chattanooga, and
started the Daily DemOpai There he rc.
NAMED until 1885, when lac came 10
Nashville and established the National Re.
riao rs the Republican organ Of the State.
In politics he remained Democrat until
1884. lie left the Democratic State con.
vention two years later. When the
b0and.3 plank on tho State debt was
adopted he announced that ho was no
longer a Democrat. Since that time he
has been an extreme Republican. He
was elected 10 the Legislature from David.
son county last fall.